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The Selected Stories of Manly Wade Wellman #Vol. 5
Owls Hoot in the Daytime, and Other Omens
Owls Hoot in the Daytime & Other Omens is the 5th and final volume of Night Shade Books' five volume "Selected Stories of Manly Wade Wellman." This volume contains all of the John the Balladeer stories (sometimes better known as Silver John), Manly's most famous character.
Contents:
• Introduction by Karl Edward Wagner
• O Ugly Bird!
• The Desrick on Yandro
• Vandy, Vandy
• One Other
• Call Me From the Valley
• The Little Black Train
• Shiver in the Pines
• Walk Like A Mountain
• On the Hills and Everywhere
• Old Devlins Was A-Waiting
• Nine Yards of Other Cloth
• Wonder As I Wander
• Farther Down the Trail
• Trill Coster's Burden
• The Spring
• Owls Hoot in the Daytime
• Can These Bones Live?
• Nobody Ever Goes There
• Where Did She Wander?
• Afterword by Gerald W. Page
245 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2001
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October 7, 2020PLACEHOLDER REVIEW: - I don't own this, but as I'm reading a number of Wellman stories from their original magazine appearances, I needed a place to put the review.
"On the Hills and Everywhere" - An atypical John story, as the only evil is that of human pride and anger. John tells a story at Christmas to his wife and kids (I think) about two neighbors who were strong friends until a misunderstanding between them caused a falling out. Then, a wandering carpenter comes through - asked to build a fence between the properties, he builds something else instead. A pleasant little fantasy story with a good moral.
"Nine Yards of Other Cloth" - this is a solid little tale that deliberately wrong-foots you at the start (you think John is being pursued by some malevolent something in the shape of a woman, but the story - told in flashbacks - eventually makes you realize otherwise). In a cursed hollow - currently inhabited by a young woman trying to escape a malevolent, spell-casting pursuer but previously occupied by an evil, cannibalistic spirit - John is drawn into the conflict between the sweet woman and the magical fiddle player (who deliberately lured John there). Nice use, as always in these stories, of Appalachian folklore and magic traditions and the conflict between the man's black magic fiddle and John's silver stringed guitar is, while underplayed, interesting. Even more interesting is the ending - was there acknowledgment, from this point on, that John - the eternal wanderer - had a wife/lady love?
In "The Little Black Train", John is invited to a barbecue party in a little valley, hosted by a woman notorious in the area for possibly having deliberately instigated a lover's death through jealousy = although the law found her innocent. That didn't stop a curse on her, encapsulated in the titular rural song, which lays out that a sinister black train of death will one day call for her. So she had the train line through the valley torn up, and sleeps her way through the local populace (her inheritance demands she never marry again) - and tonight she has her eye on John. But John knows the song as well, and he and another fellow play it and add a new verse, and impossibly...the train with coffin cars can soon be heard approaching.... A satisfying Silver John story, with a lot of really nice small details and, as usual, the occasional touch of unrelated folklore (here, a wonderful bit about "day trees" and "night trees"). Good stuff.
"On the Hills and Everywhere" - An atypical John story, as the only evil is that of human pride and anger. John tells a story at Christmas to his wife and kids (I think) about two neighbors who were strong friends until a misunderstanding between them caused a falling out. Then, a wandering carpenter comes through - asked to build a fence between the properties, he builds something else instead. A pleasant little fantasy story with a good moral.
"Nine Yards of Other Cloth" - this is a solid little tale that deliberately wrong-foots you at the start (you think John is being pursued by some malevolent something in the shape of a woman, but the story - told in flashbacks - eventually makes you realize otherwise). In a cursed hollow - currently inhabited by a young woman trying to escape a malevolent, spell-casting pursuer but previously occupied by an evil, cannibalistic spirit - John is drawn into the conflict between the sweet woman and the magical fiddle player (who deliberately lured John there). Nice use, as always in these stories, of Appalachian folklore and magic traditions and the conflict between the man's black magic fiddle and John's silver stringed guitar is, while underplayed, interesting. Even more interesting is the ending - was there acknowledgment, from this point on, that John - the eternal wanderer - had a wife/lady love?
In "The Little Black Train", John is invited to a barbecue party in a little valley, hosted by a woman notorious in the area for possibly having deliberately instigated a lover's death through jealousy = although the law found her innocent. That didn't stop a curse on her, encapsulated in the titular rural song, which lays out that a sinister black train of death will one day call for her. So she had the train line through the valley torn up, and sleeps her way through the local populace (her inheritance demands she never marry again) - and tonight she has her eye on John. But John knows the song as well, and he and another fellow play it and add a new verse, and impossibly...the train with coffin cars can soon be heard approaching.... A satisfying Silver John story, with a lot of really nice small details and, as usual, the occasional touch of unrelated folklore (here, a wonderful bit about "day trees" and "night trees"). Good stuff.
July 20, 2010
Here we go. This volume collects all of Manly Wade Wellman's Silver John short stories (he also wrote several Silver John novels). Silver John was probably Wellman's most enduring creation, and for very good reason, as these are some of Wellman's best stories. He captures the voice and tone of his backwoods characters beautifully, and the tall-tale qualities of the stories here are pitch perfect.
If you can only read one Wellman book, I'd recommend this one.
If you can only read one Wellman book, I'd recommend this one.
June 30, 2023
This is a complete of all of Manly Wade Wellman's Silver John stories. Rooted in Appalachian folklore, they are told by John the Balladeer who is a captivating protagonist adept at battling evil with a song and sometimes with a silver quarter. The narrator is simply wonderful.
As another reviewer pointed out, we are never in doubt that John will win. The charm comes in how the story is imbued with Appalachian flavor and the imaginative nature of the predicaments and evil that John faces.
These are really great and I don't understand how they are so little known. I'm just glad that I came across them myself finally.
As another reviewer pointed out, we are never in doubt that John will win. The charm comes in how the story is imbued with Appalachian flavor and the imaginative nature of the predicaments and evil that John faces.
These are really great and I don't understand how they are so little known. I'm just glad that I came across them myself finally.
August 9, 2008
Complete set of the Silver John short stories.
November 6, 2022
This, the fifth and final volume in Night Shade Books series of Wellman anthologies, contains all of the John stories. John–aka Silver John, or John the Balladeer–is probably the author's most famous creation. If you've read enough anthologies, you almost certainly know the character: a traveler of mountains and small-town communities carrying a silver-stringed guitar.
Karl Edward Wagner's Introduction promises this as the definitive collection, containing all of the stories from "O Ugly Bird!" through "Where Did She Wander?" in publication order. It's a treat to see the character's growth over time. Many of these were familiar to me from previous anthologies, but it's still a treat to read them all again back to back.
I don't know that I have a favorite. They're all special in their own way. If memory serves, "The Desrick On Yandro," was the first one I ever read. But I'd hate to rate it higher than, say, "Trill Coster's Burden," or, "The Little Black Train." They're all good.
Rounding out the volume is a brief overview of Wellman's writing career by series editor, Gerald W. Page. The description of a brief encounter between Wellman and William Faulkner (!) alone is worth the price of this book all by itself.
This is a fitting capstone to an excellent series of Wellman reprints. Highly, highly recommended!
Karl Edward Wagner's Introduction promises this as the definitive collection, containing all of the stories from "O Ugly Bird!" through "Where Did She Wander?" in publication order. It's a treat to see the character's growth over time. Many of these were familiar to me from previous anthologies, but it's still a treat to read them all again back to back.
I don't know that I have a favorite. They're all special in their own way. If memory serves, "The Desrick On Yandro," was the first one I ever read. But I'd hate to rate it higher than, say, "Trill Coster's Burden," or, "The Little Black Train." They're all good.
Rounding out the volume is a brief overview of Wellman's writing career by series editor, Gerald W. Page. The description of a brief encounter between Wellman and William Faulkner (!) alone is worth the price of this book all by itself.
This is a fitting capstone to an excellent series of Wellman reprints. Highly, highly recommended!
August 31, 2020
The stories in this volume are mostly from the 50's and comprise what may be considered Wellman's best work: his tales of Silver John, a wandering mountain-man balladeer who hikes all over Appalachia (mostly in the vicinity of Tennessee and North Carolina), toting his silver-stringed guitar and encountering all manner of supernatural backwoods phenomena. His aim, as stated by himself, is chiefly to "find out things", but also involves tracking down elusive folk songs rumored to be among the hills. This material would be enjoyable enough on its own, but it seems perfectly suited to an oral presentation, given that John himself narrates almost all of the stories. I'm no expert, but I enjoyed Brian Troxell's handling of the regional accents and Wellman's seemingly authentic vocabulary. Nothing here is especially terrifying, but John is definitely unique and endearing, and his adventures often spooky.
October 26, 2025
Manly Wade Wellman specializes in Appalachian folk horror, and this collection gathers all (I think) of his "John the Balladeer" stories in one place. John (his last name is never given) is an unusual hero - polite and helpful, but a little reserved with those he doesn't know - who wanders all over the country, mostly in Appalachia, carrying his silver-strung guitar and investigating mysteries. He encounters a variety of people in danger from various supernatural things - witches, sorcerers, ancient artifacts, demons, curses, and more. Most of these evils are somehow vulnerable to music and/or silver. After solving the mystery and/or defeating the evil, John inevitably moves on to the next adventure.
The stories have a very old-fashioned feel to them - they are set (I think) in the 1950s or 60s, but between the setting, the dialogue, and a certain corniness. Some of the tropes that the author uses feel dated (for instance, he basically only has two types of women in his stories: the innocent, mostly helpless maiden and the seductive, evil witch), they feel older than that. Later in the book, the stories take a little bit more of a religious tone in places, with one particular story being almost egregiously so. With a few exceptions, it rarely feels like our hero is in very much danger (though when Wellman manages to truly put John in danger, it hits all the harder). And while John has a variety of adventures, there's a certain sameness to most of them, so I ended up taking breaks from it every so often. Despite all that, or perhaps because of it, they are a lot of fun, sort of a comfort read. Glad I read it.
The stories have a very old-fashioned feel to them - they are set (I think) in the 1950s or 60s, but between the setting, the dialogue, and a certain corniness. Some of the tropes that the author uses feel dated (for instance, he basically only has two types of women in his stories: the innocent, mostly helpless maiden and the seductive, evil witch), they feel older than that. Later in the book, the stories take a little bit more of a religious tone in places, with one particular story being almost egregiously so. With a few exceptions, it rarely feels like our hero is in very much danger (though when Wellman manages to truly put John in danger, it hits all the harder). And while John has a variety of adventures, there's a certain sameness to most of them, so I ended up taking breaks from it every so often. Despite all that, or perhaps because of it, they are a lot of fun, sort of a comfort read. Glad I read it.
May 5, 2022
A collection of short stories involving John Silver, the Appalachia mountains and the strange going ons that take place there. Modern folklore essentially.
The thematic elements were amazing. I felt like I was actually tracking through the backwoods with John. The stories made me ravenously curious about Appalachia, it's history and culture. Many times while reading I found myself stopping and looking up Appalachia music or Appalachia food.
While it was well written and the author is highly skilled, I did find the stories a bit samey after a while. It is difficult to put my finger on exactly why, because the plots were different, but somehow mostly similar. I think if I had not been reading the stories one after another perhaps I wouldn't notice.
This is one of those rare times where I think I would have enjoyed each story more if they were stretched out. Perhaps each one a novella. I enjoyed The Old Gods Waken more so for this reason.
The last few hours of this book I in fact had to push through and was more doing it just to finish rather than out of enjoyment.
I am still willing to read more of John's adventures in following books, but maybe after a bit of a break or perhaps reading it at a slower pace.
The thematic elements were amazing. I felt like I was actually tracking through the backwoods with John. The stories made me ravenously curious about Appalachia, it's history and culture. Many times while reading I found myself stopping and looking up Appalachia music or Appalachia food.
While it was well written and the author is highly skilled, I did find the stories a bit samey after a while. It is difficult to put my finger on exactly why, because the plots were different, but somehow mostly similar. I think if I had not been reading the stories one after another perhaps I wouldn't notice.
This is one of those rare times where I think I would have enjoyed each story more if they were stretched out. Perhaps each one a novella. I enjoyed The Old Gods Waken more so for this reason.
The last few hours of this book I in fact had to push through and was more doing it just to finish rather than out of enjoyment.
I am still willing to read more of John's adventures in following books, but maybe after a bit of a break or perhaps reading it at a slower pace.
September 16, 2024
Excellent collection of Manly Wade Wellmans short stories of his Silver John. Have reread this many times. Also have audio. You may also find this same collection listed as John the Balladeer. Either way, if you have interest in southern mountain tales of supernatural and horror, read these immediately.
Here is a list of the stories included (and the audio times if you get that version):
00:00:16-O Ugly Bird!
00:29:04-The Desrick on Yandro
01:00:00-Vandy, Vandy
01:36:25-One Other
02:14:15-Call Me From the Valley
02:43:51-The Little Black Train
03:23:54-Shiver in the Pines
04:08:18-Walk Like A Mountain
04:47:33-On the Hills and Everywhere
05:06:00-Old Devlins Was A-Waiting
05:53:09-Nine Yards of Other Cloth
06:39:03-Wonder As I Wander
06:50:21-Farther Down the Trail
06:57:10-Trill Coster's Burden
07:27:15-The Spring
07:58:08-Owls Hoot in the Daytime
08:30:25-Can These Bones Live?
08:54:16-Nobody Ever Goes There
09:22:10-Where Did She Wander?
Here is a list of the stories included (and the audio times if you get that version):
00:00:16-O Ugly Bird!
00:29:04-The Desrick on Yandro
01:00:00-Vandy, Vandy
01:36:25-One Other
02:14:15-Call Me From the Valley
02:43:51-The Little Black Train
03:23:54-Shiver in the Pines
04:08:18-Walk Like A Mountain
04:47:33-On the Hills and Everywhere
05:06:00-Old Devlins Was A-Waiting
05:53:09-Nine Yards of Other Cloth
06:39:03-Wonder As I Wander
06:50:21-Farther Down the Trail
06:57:10-Trill Coster's Burden
07:27:15-The Spring
07:58:08-Owls Hoot in the Daytime
08:30:25-Can These Bones Live?
08:54:16-Nobody Ever Goes There
09:22:10-Where Did She Wander?
August 10, 2021
John the Balladeer is Wellman's most beloved creation, and I have to agree, that the non-assuming, drifter is definitely likable, though oftentimes I feel the stories could benefit from a little more tension, or perhaps some more cleverness of plot.
That drifting through on goodness and goodwill, however, is probably what sets John apart from the legion of "heroes combating evil," and I'd probably have enjoyed this more if I had spread out my intake even more than the "one story per weekend shopping trip for mom" schedule I was on during Covid.
That drifting through on goodness and goodwill, however, is probably what sets John apart from the legion of "heroes combating evil," and I'd probably have enjoyed this more if I had spread out my intake even more than the "one story per weekend shopping trip for mom" schedule I was on during Covid.
October 17, 2020
The supernatural adventures of a man and his silver stringed guitar. Fighting werewolves, witches, vampires, and telling a Christmas story that caught me completely by surprise. If you haven't read or heard any Silver John stories, give it a try. You will soon enjoy it.
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August 30, 2021DNF Got through 5 stories; not for me.
May 24, 2024
John is the near perfect protagonist for fantastical short fiction.
Read
February 5, 2025These were great modern day folktales. I loved them alone and they got better as you move along the collection and start to recognize the rhythm and pattern to them.
February 23, 2021
One of the collections of Manly Wade Wellman stories from Audible. I've read a few Silver John stories before, but this is a nice, long collection. John is an interesting character, a man of faith who's not afraid to confront the supernatural in the mountains.
Made me want to pull my guitar out again and pretend I can sing. :)
Made me want to pull my guitar out again and pretend I can sing. :)
December 1, 2021
3.5*
I did like this. It was exactly what I expected it to be. There were no surprises. You think the evil person is evil and they are. You think John will use daring and maybe a silver coin to get out of it again, and he does.
What plot doesn't express is Wellman's charm. His realistic Appalachian dialect and old-timey manners. The real songs he weaves into the stories. The mild creepy build before the supernatural shows up. While the plots themselves aren't much, how well Wellman knows his people and how he handles the old tales really works.
I did like this. It was exactly what I expected it to be. There were no surprises. You think the evil person is evil and they are. You think John will use daring and maybe a silver coin to get out of it again, and he does.
What plot doesn't express is Wellman's charm. His realistic Appalachian dialect and old-timey manners. The real songs he weaves into the stories. The mild creepy build before the supernatural shows up. While the plots themselves aren't much, how well Wellman knows his people and how he handles the old tales really works.
August 8, 2014
This is the second time I've read this set of stories in the span of six months--the other edition was an illustrated softcover in Paizo's Planet Stories line, and this one finishes up Night Shade Books' "Selected Stories of Manly Wade Wellman" series. They're unique, startling, and in reading them after four other volumes of his fiction, the major achievement of Wellman's influential career.
Want to read
November 14, 2007haven't read this, but I love his books, especially the Silver John stories, even if they are a little hokey at times. That and MWW seems to have a problem with really strong women, especially if they are tall, beautiful and dark-haired. O well, he's a product of his time
December 25, 2016
Complete collection of Wellman's John the Balladeer short stories, presented in chronological order and in their original publication versions; simple tales, often spooky and heartfelt, and told in an authentic vernacular full of artful phrasing - you should ought read 'em.
May 16, 2007
Awesome and underrated horror / fiction / historical fiction writer from the South. This book of short stories is excellent.
July 25, 2011
Stories get a little repetitive at times.
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